Vienna (OTS) – The winning project for the Visitor Center of the Upper Belvedere has been determined: the architectural firm epps Ploder Simon ZT GmbH from Graz won against 81 competitors. The participants in the EU-wide, open, single-stage implementation competition came from eight countries.
It is an incredible joy that our contribution, which aims at a careful and respectful handling of the baroque microcosm of Belvedere without foregoing the contemporary, has led to a victory that ultimately also represents a past and a present building culture
, explained Petra Simon and Elemer Ploder in an initial reaction. Together they lead the twelve-person architectural office, which focuses on building existing buildings, particularly listed buildings.
The jury, led by architect Roger Riewe and made up of the Chamber of Civil Engineers, the Federal Real Estate Company, the City of Vienna and the Belvedere and advised by experts from the Castle Authority, the Federal Monuments Office, the Federal Gardens and the 3rd district of Vienna, decided unanimously. She acknowledged that the winning project respects the baroque ensemble and the requirements of monument protection, but at the same time does not forego its own independent identity. The requirement was that the Visitor Center under the southern forecourt of the castle should be as invisible as possible from the outside. The winning project therefore leads from the entrance at the cavalier wing on Prinz Eugen-Straße over three levels to the visitor center under the park. From there the connection to the castle takes place.
It has become necessary to build a visitor center in order to ensure a contemporary infrastructure for this large number of visitors in the baroque palace – the most visited art museum in Austria with 1.3 million guests in 2023.
The equally elegant and functionally flexible design by epps enables a course for the future of the Belvedere that does justice to its international reputation and attractiveness. The new Visitor Center gives us the opportunity to reflect the cultural significance of the house in the service area in the future
explains General Director Stella Rollig.
The project is part of an economic stimulus package that the federal government has already included in the budget. The federal government has budgeted a total of 100 million euros for the years 2025-2027 for the important construction projects in the Belvedere, the Art History Museum and the Natural History Museum. All three houses will have modern infrastructure that will sustainably improve the visitor experience
said Art and Culture State Secretary Andrea Mayer. I am very pleased with the result of the architecture competition – from a cultural policy perspective, but also as a passionate museum visitor
.
The importance of the project is also emphasized by the owner’s representative of the property: The contemporary requirements for historic buildings represent major challenges, but bring improvements for the future. The flow of visitors associated with the construction of a visitor center will significantly reduce the load on significant parts of the historic building. This supports the sustainable preservation of Belvedere Palace
said castle captain Reinhold Sahl.
Based on the winning project, the contractual structure of the construction project must now be drawn up so that detailed planning can begin as soon as possible
, Economic Managing Director Wolfgang Bergmann explains the further timetable. An 18-month planning and submission phase and an equally long construction period are expected.
The winning project will be among the 12 best designs and will be open to the public and free of charge from May 28th to June 2nd, 2024 at Belvedere 21.
Questions & Contact:
Petra Fuchs
Belvedere Public Relations
+43 664 800 141 177
presse@belvedere.at
www.belvedere.at
Irene Jaeger
Belvedere Public Relations
+43 664 800 141 185
presse@belvedere.at
www.belvedere.at